Cars drive through the toll booths on the New Jersey Turnpike in East Brunswick, N.J., Friday, Oct. 10, 2008.

17 times Long Island faced off with New Jersey to keep business expansions here

Updated March 23, 2015 10:16 PM
By Newsday.com

Cars drive through the toll booths on the New Jersey Turnpike in East Brunswick, N.J., Friday, Oct. 10, 2008. (Credit: AP)

In the past few years there have been 17 cases in which New Jersey, other states and even China competed with Long Island for companies looking to expand or consolidate operations. In only one case did a company choose New Jersey over Long Island, but the incentives are adding up.

The list below shows the companies, the projects and the incentive packages that ultimately proved most attractive...

Content Preview This content is exclusive for Newsday digital access and home delivery subscribers and Optimum Online customers.

In the past few years there have been 17 cases in which New Jersey, other states and even China competed with Long Island for companies looking to expand or consolidate operations. In only one case did a company choose New Jersey over Long Island, but the incentives are adding up.

The list below shows the companies, the projects and the incentive packages that ultimately proved most attractive to these firms.

1. Broadridge Financial Solutions - 2012

In 2012, Lake Success-based Broadridge Financial Solutions, an investor documents processor, was wooed by New Jersey, Texas, Virginia, Florida, Ohio and Long Island economic development organizations when it proposed $77 million worth of projects to improve its manufacturing operations.

Outcome: LI won, offering the company a $1 million grant, $19 million in tax breaks and $6 million off power bills from New York State, $2.3 million off power bills from the Long Island Power Authority, an $8.3 million reduction in property taxes over 15 years from Suffolk County and Islip Town and $2.6 million in sales-tax exemptions from Suffolk, a total package worth $39.2 million.

Jobs retained: 1906; Average wages: $74,500

Agencies offering aid: Empire State Development, NY Power Authority, Long Island Power Authority, Suffolk County IDA, Islip Town IDA

Caption: Inside the a Broadridge Financial Solutions factory in Islip Town on May 9, 2012.

2. Sysco - 2011

(Credit: Steve Pfost)

In 2011, Houston-based food service provider Sysco planned a $75 million project to build a new warehouse to serve clients in Long Island and New York City. New Jersey, Connecticut and Long Island all competed to offer the best incentive package.

Outcome: LI won, offering the company a $2.5 million sales-tax exemption and $4.7 million break on property taxes over 14 years from Islip Town, a total package worth $7.2 million.

Jobs created: 185; Average wages: $63,152

Agency offering aid: Islip Town IDA

Caption: Sysco Long Island president Frank Recine uses scissors to cut a cloth rope, signifying the grand opening of his Central Islip refrigerated warehouse on June 15, 2012.

3. Forest Labs - 2011

(Credit: Newsday / Thomas A. Ferrara)

In 2011, Manhattan-based drugmaker Forest Laboratories faced incentive bids from New Jerey, Ohio, Missouri and Long Island when it planned a $39 million project to consolidate its Suffolk operations, as well as convert factory space.

Outcome: LI won, and Forest made improvements to its buildings in Commack and Hauppauge. Incentives included $3.3 million in tax credits from New York State and $2.1 million in tax breaks from Suffolk County, a total package worth $5.5 million.

4. Karp Associates - 2011 to 2013

(Credit: Google)

In 2011, Karp Associates & Flush Metal Partitions, a Maspeth, Queens, maker of metal doors and bathroom stalls, planned a $17 million project to move its operations. New Jersey and Long Island both offered incentives.

Outcome: LI won, and Karp bought a building in Melville. Incentives included a $100,000 grant and $345,000 in tax breaks from New York State; a $7 million sales-tax exemption, and a 15-year property tax break from Suffolk County, a total package worth $7.4 million.

Jobs retained: 110; Average wages: $33,569 - $36,481

Agencies offering aid: Empire State Development, Suffolk County IDA

Caption: The Maspeth headquarters of Karp Associates in September 2013.

5. R-Best Produce - 2012

(Credit: Howard Schnapp)

In 2012, Bronx-based fruits and vegetables supplier R-Best Produce planned a $16.6 million project to construct a new building. New Jersey and Long Island again faced off to attract that project.

Outcome: LI won, and R-Best moved to Port Washington thanks to a 15-year property tax break, $100,000 off the mortgage recording tax and a $138,000 sales-tax exemption from Nassau County.

6. WAC Lighting Co. - 2011

(Credit: Google)

In 2011, energy-efficient lighting maker WAC Lighting of Garden City planned a $13 million project to move its headquarters and open a research facility. Executives considered locations on Long Island and in New Jersey and China.

Outcome: LI won, and WAC bought a building in Port Washington thanks to $100,000 off the mortgage recording tax, a $35,000 sales-tax exemption and a15-year property tax break from Nassau County.

Jobs created: 228; Jobs retained: 65; Average wages: $79,814

Agency offering aid: Nassau County IDA

Caption: The WAC Lighting building in Garden City on February 2013.

7. Designatronics Inc. - 2013

(Credit: Google)

In 2013, Designatronics Inc., a New Hyde Park maker of small motion-control components, planned a $11.2 million project to consolidate four sites in Nassau County into one building. Executives considered locations on Long Island and in New Jersey.

Outcome: LI won, and Designatronics bought a building in Hicksville. The incentive package was a 15-year freeze of property taxes and $172,500 sales-tax exemption from Nassau County

Jobs created: 1; Jobs retained: 256; Average wages: $20,000 - $54,080

Agency offering aid: Nassau County IDA

Caption: The former Designatronics building in New Hyde Park on August 2012.

8. Hain Celestial Group - 2012

(Credit: Uli Seit / Uli Seit)

In 2012, Lake Success-based natural foods maker Hain Celestial planned a $10 million project to expand its headquarters and outfit a new product development lab. New Jersey, Colorado and Long Island all offered incentives.

Outcome: LI won, and Hain rented space in Lake Success. The incentives were $4.5 million from New York State, and a $850,000 sales-tax exemption and 16-year freeze of property taxes from Nassau County.

Jobs created: 122; Jobs retained: 250; Average wages: $131,333

Agencies offering aid: Empire State Development, Nassau County IDA

Caption: One of the product displays in the work area at Hain Celestial Group on May 9, 2014.

9. Widex - 2011 to 2012

(Credit: Newsday / J. Conrad Williams, Jr.)

In 2011, hearing aid seller Widex, whose U.S. operations are in Garden City, planned a $8.7 million project to combine two Nassau County offices and two plants in Queens. Executives considered sites in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas and Long Island.

Outcome: LI won, and the company bought a building in Hauppauge, thanks to $1 million in tax breaks from New York State, $1.4 million in property tax savings over 15 years and a $200,000 sales tax exemption from Suffolk County.

Jobs created: 50; Jobs retained: 200; Average wages: $37,154

Agencies offering aid: Empire State Development, Suffolk County IDA

Caption: Overlooking the production floor from the first level lounge at Widex-USA, the American headquarters in Hauppauge.

10. Angion Biomedica Corp. - 2012

(Credit: Handout)

In 2012, Farmingdale-based drug development company Angion Biomedica Corp. planned a $8.3 million project to find a new headquarters and laboratory, and once again New Jersey and Long Island vied for that business.

Outcome: LI won, and the company bought a building in Uniondale thanks to $850,000 in tax breaks from New York State.

Jobs created: 20; Jobs retained: 30; Average wages: $90,000

Agency offering aid: Empire State Development

Caption: The Angion headquarters in Uniondale.

11. Rochem International - 2013

(Credit: Google)

In 2013, Ronkokoma-based Rochem International, an ingredients supplier to drugmakers, planned a $5 million project to expand its operations so it could make some products locally. New Jersey and Long Island both vied for the business.

Outcome: LI won, and the company bought a building in Hauppauge thanks to a $45,282 sales-tax exemption, $25,725 off the mortgage recording tax and a $264,396 reduction in property taxes over 10 years from Suffolk County.

Jobs created: 5; Jobs retained: 16; Average wages: $105,856

Agency offering aid: Suffolk County IDA

Caption: The Rochem headquarters in Ronkonkoma on July 2012.

12. IntraLogic - 2013

(Credit: Newsday / Audrey C. Tiernan)

In 2013, video surveillance services company IntraLogic planned a $3 million project to move into a larger space. Executives considered sites in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Long Island.

Outcome: LI won, and the company bought a building in Massapequa thanks to a $45,000 sales tax exemption, $25,000 off the mortgage recording tax and a 15-year break on property taxes from Nassau County.

Jobs created: 13; Jobs retained: 32; Average wages: $37,310

Agency offering aid: Nassau County IDA

Caption: IntraLogic CEO Lee Mandel at the podium is joined by Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano and others in a ceremony that kicks off Intralogic's expansion, May 7, 2014.

13. Shanker Industries - 2012

(Credit: Anthony Lanzilote)

In 2012, Shanker Industries, a Lake Success maker of decorative metal ceiling tiles, planned a $865,000 project to consolidate its New Jersey production facility with its Long Island headquarters in Lake Success. Both New Jersey and Long Island vied for the business.

Outcome: LI won, and the company moved to a building in Deer Park after receiving a $155,000 reduction in property taxes over 12 years, $13,630 off the mortgage recording tax and a $3,958 sales-tax exemption from Babylon Town.

Jobs created: 10; Average wages: $35,000

Agency offering aid: Babylon Town IDA

Caption: David Shanker, head of Shanker Industries poses for a photo inside his newly opened factory in Deer Park on Oct. 11, 2012.

14, 15. Wenner Bakery - 2013

Outcome: New Jersey won the larger bid, which resulted in the company moving some of its factory work to New Brunswick, New Jersey, after receiving more than $30 million in incentives over 10 years. When it came to the Ronkonkoma project, LI won, and the company renewed its lease on an existing plant and made several improvements valued at $1,000,000. In that case, Wenner scored a $451,000 reduction in property taxes over 10 years and a $51,000 sales-tax exemption from Suffolk County.

Caption: Jeff Montie, CEO, of Wenner Bakery and Richard Wenner, president/chief customer officer, discuss bread as it travels along the production line on May 15, 2014..

16, 17. - Nassau Candy - 2011 and 2013

(Credit: Screenshot)

Nassau Candy Distributors of Hicksville is another company to twice seek incentives in the past few years. In 2011, the company planned a $2.25 million project to expand. Then, in 2013, the company planned a $14.7 million project to open a regional warehouse to free up space for more manufacturing. In both cases, New Jersey and Long Island vied for the business.

Outcome: LI won both times. In 2011, the company moved work from Canada and opened a Hicksville warehouse after scoring $250,000 in tax breaks from New York State. Then, in 2013, the company created a regional warehouse in Hicksville after receiving $124,740 off the mortgage recording tax, a $100,000 sales-tax exemption and a 20-year property tax break from Nassau County.